Tips to Keep Cool This Summer

June 12, 2015

You can feel it, blowing in warmer and warmer. The summer creeps up on us and, the next thing we know, we are scrambling to find ways to keep cool during the summer heat or even a heat wave. With the official start of summer just a couple of weeks away, here are some tips to keeping cool this summer in fun and unique ways.

Make Popsicles – Get a Popsicle tray and make a fun afternoon out of trying out new recipes. Check out some of these unique recipes found in Real Simple Magazine.

Frozen Water Bottles – The AC might be refreshing but if you are trying to keep your energy bill lower, turning to frozen water bottles is a great alternative. Take a water bottle, fill it up about ¾ of the way to allow room for the expansion of water, and after a couple hours you will have a cool tool. This is also great for pets who will lay against the coolness to keep their body temperature down.

Cross Breeze in Evenings – As the temperature begins to drop, open up windows and doors to create a breeze throughout your home. This will allow the inside temperature to drop before you head off to sleep. Another trick commonly used is to place wet sheets in front of open windows. As the breeze enters the home, passing through the wet sheets helps cool the air down creating a natural air conditioning unit.

Stay Low – Since heat rises, stay as low to the ground as possible. If you live in a multiple story home, try to spend your time on the ground floor.

Reduce Energy Use – All appliances put off heat whether they are being used or not. Your best bet is to unplug appliances to help reduce the heat being created. Avoid the oven, stove, and TVs.

Camp at Home – Got a yard, access to a roof garden, or something similar? Time to pitch a tent and sleep outside! Avoid the constraints of sleeping indoors and sleep comfortably under the cool night sky.

Stay Hydrated – Maybe most importantly of all these tips is stay hydrated. Without enough water, your body will become lethargic and the heat will affect it more and in extreme cases cause heat exhaustion or serious dehydration. Sip on water throughout the day while avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks.